How's life in jail?: Star visits detention center

An hour before noon, and the kitchen behind the locked metal door is full of activity and the scent of cooking food.

Inside, workers wearing gloves fill brown plastic trays with squares of crumbly, yellow cornbread, a heap of cole slaw and a few meatballs.

Another woman rolls out balls of cookie dough onto sheets.

Although the portions appear small next to a Big Mac and a large Coke, by the end of the day, if every morsel is eaten, the diner will have consumed 3,000 calories.

Every morning, beginning in the pre-dawn hours, the prepared trays are stacked onto trolleys and wheeled out of the kitchen where they will be served to the inmates at the Cleveland County Detention Center. A van will deliver additional trays to the men and women housed in the Law Enforcement Center at the Cleveland County Courthouse.

Once booked and behind bars, inmates are at the mercy of the justice system. Every choice - from clothing to meal and shower times, is dictated.

One of the common complaints coming from the Cleveland County Detention Center surrounds what is on the dinner plate.

The Star has received complaints from inmates' families claiming loved ones are served bologna every day for weeks. One mother said her son is fed tiny portions of beanie wienies consisting of 18 meager beans and three slices of hot dog.

The Star recently visited the kitchen at the Detention Center and spoke with the staff of ABL Management, a Florida-based company responsible for the preparation of meals.

What's served?

Sherry Lee, manager over the kitchen, said a dietitian creates a menu each month.

Lee said the dietitian determines what is served and how much.

A typical meal consists of eight ounces of rice, four ounces of macaroni and cheese, a beef patty, two pieces of bread and two cookies.

Detention Center Capt. Durwin Briscoe said the state requirement is to provide a daily calorie intake of 2,500, but Cleveland County exceeds that by 500.

Common entrees include a turkey-based meat, cabbage, cornbread and cake for dessert.

Kool-Aid is served with lunch and dinner.

Lee said a typical breakfast usually includes eggs, grits, fruit or turkey, with coffee, orange juice or milk to drink.

Who's keeping tabs on the kitchen?

Sheriff Alan Norman said the Cleveland County Health Department does sanitation and code inspections of the kitchen.

He said a North Carolina jail inspector also does inspections.

Lee said she has received compliments on the food.

"If we get a complaint, we'll try fix the problem," she said.

Reach reporter Rebecca Clark at 704-669-3344 or rclark@shelbystar.com or follow on Twitter @TheStarRebecca.

Detention Center food facts

-Each tray of food costs the county about $1.35. With a total current population of about 250, the daily bill is more than $800.

-Workers come in about 4 a.m. to begin breakfast preparations and the meal is usually served beginning at 5 a.m.

-Lunch starts at 11 a.m. and dinner at 4 p.m., with trays distributed one pod at a time. There are four pods at the Detention Center.

-According to state requirements, there can't be more than 16 hours between meals.

-Special trays are prepared for inmates with medical conditions, and snack bags are handed out to diabetics each evening.

Source: Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.

Jail facts

-Inmates can purchase snacks, aspirin and even Crocs from the commissary. The commissary is run by a company called Oasis Inmate Commissary Services.

-Once booked into the jail, each inmate receives a small bag of hygiene products. Once those products are used, the inmate is responsible for purchasing their own.

-Family members put money on the inmate's account for commissary purchases. They can do so through an ATM machine located in the lobby of the Cleveland County Detention Center. Money can be added to accounts via cash, debit or credit card. People can also send in money orders.

-An inmate is determined to be indigent if 14 consecutive days have passed with no activity on their account. If they are indigent, hygiene products are provided free of charge.

-Medical care within in the Detention Center is provided by Southern Health Partners, a company that provides health-care services to county and city correctional facilities across the country. A nurse is available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. to distribute medications and see inmates. If an inmate has a medical need, the inmate has to fill out a medical request form.

-Each nurse visit costs the inmate a co-pay. If they are indigent, it is free. Detention Center Capt. Durwin Briscoe said the state sets a cap of $20 per visit, but the county charges $10. Prescriptions cost $3. Southern Health Partners does not prescribe narcotics and those medications have to come from the person's prescribing doctor. If the inmate is not in compliance with his medications prior to being incarcerated, he or she will not receive them while in the Detention Center. No medication is given until the person has been seen by a doctor. If the inmate and the inmate's family is not satisfied with the medical care, they can set up an appointment with an outside doctor.

-A button is located in each cell in case of emergencies.

-In the minimum security pod, inmates spend six hours each day out of their cell.

-Cells are inspected every day for cleanliness and contraband and unannounced searches are also conducted.

-A and B pods are minimum security, while D pod is maximum security. C pod allows inmates the most freedom with no cell doors and an open floor.

-Inmates can check out books each week. Every Saturday, a cart is taken through the pods and inmates can check out pre-approved reading material. The books are donated from the local library and churches donate Bibles.

-Jail visits are done via technology. Inmates never leave the pod. Visitors use a handset and a video monitor to visit with an incarcerated family member or friend. The jail schedules the visitor's time and date and can monitor each visit.

-There are two types of isolation in the Detention Center. One is for medical isolation if someone is intoxicated, and one is padded for inmates who are suicidal. Both have cameras.

-According to state law, correctional facilities have to offer inmates a minimum of three showers a week and recreation three times a week.

-Each pod has a phone and inmates can make Collect calls during recreation hours.

-It is against the law to provide tobacco products or cell phones to inmates.

-Life skills classes are offered at the Detention Center and each pod has a classroom. Classes deal with parenting, money and family issues.

-Inmates can also take classes to prepare them to take the GED test, administered outside the jail, and earn a high school diploma.

-Representatives from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous volunteer to talk with inmates.

-The largest volunteer group is the church ministry which is composed of 19 different churches. Volunteers conduct Thursday night Bible studies and Sunday services.